Argentine president released from hospital

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Supporters cheered as President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina left the hospital Sunday after cranial surgery.

Associated Press
October 14, 2013

BUENOS AIRES — President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina was released from a hospital Sunday, five days after undergoing surgery for a cranial blood clot, but doctors said she needs another month of rest.

Doctors at the Fundacion Favaloro hospital said she should be in ‘‘strict repose’’ and avoid air travel for 30 days. Still, her spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro said, she was recovering well and is ‘‘in excellent spirits.’’

That period of rest would keep her out of the campaign for legislative elections on Oct. 27. Polls indicate that her party could suffer losses.

Supporters cheered and chanted slogans as her official car drove out of the hospital under heavy guard.

Fernandez, 60, underwent surgery Tuesday to drain a blood clot that was pressing on her brain and causing pain. Officials said it was caused by a previously unreported blow to the head that she suffered on Aug. 12.

Brain surgeons not involved in Fernandez’s surgery said there was no reason to think that the surgery could have lasting complications, but they said the risks would increase if she tried to go back to work too soon.

They also differed widely on how long such patients generally need to recuperate — the Argentines consulted said she could be out from 30 to even 90 days, while US experts said she could be back to work in a week.

A member of the surgical team, Dr. Pablo Rubino, suggested Wednesday that Argentines have little need to worry.

‘‘Once she’s completely recovered, there won’t be any problem. She'll be able to do any sort of activity,’’ he said.

But Rubino, the chief of vascular surgery at the Fundacion Favaloro, stressed that confidentiality rules prevented her doctors from saying how long she might need to recover.